Want to see the stars? Come to Southern Tuscany

Everyone knows about Tuscany and its incredible landscapes "under the Tuscan sun", but very few people are aware that the region offers some superb stargazing opportunities.
In 2001, the first world atlas of light pollution was published, authored by two Italians and an American researcher. This document revealed, for the first time, a very dark area in Southern Tuscany, covering the inland areas of the Maremma, Monte Amiata, the Farma and Merse valleys, the southern parts of the provinces of Pisa and Livorno, and the Tuscan Archipelago.
The first world atlas of the artificialnight sky brightness", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2001 by Cinzano et alWhy is the sky so starry in this part of the country? Like other dark corners of Italy (namely, the mountain ranges of Sardinia, Basilicata, Calabria and Campania), the "dark places" on the map have all in common very low population density and are located far from large urban centres. The low light pollution is due to the lack of infrastructure and the geographical conformation shielding light from the larger towns.
Panorama with a blue skyTuscany’s darkest spot has vaunts something special compared to other places in Italy: it is much more accessible.
A dark sky is an important feature not only for stargazers and poets looking for inspiration. Light pollution has significant effects on energy, environment and on human health. The dark skies of Southern Tuscany are therefore a peculiarity that should be protected like other natural resources and can be promoted without having to remove the lighting required to support our night-time activities.
The Milky Way in Principina a Mare #Maremma [Photo credits: Federico Giussani]
In order to create a new kind of relationship with the "dark areas" of Tuscany and to collect more data about dark sky places, in 2008, the BuioMetria Partecipativa project began in the Farma Valley, between Siena and Grosseto. The project has been developed in other parts of Italy and has become part of European initiatives related to light and night.
Everybody can participate in activities of interest for both youngsters and grown-ups, ranging from observation campaigns, science initiatives for citizens and awareness-raising events. If you are planning a trip to Southern Tuscany or are interested to learn more about the project, please visit www.buiometriapartecipativa.org .
Orbetello [Photo credits: Michele la Micela]
Original article by: Andrea Giacomelli

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